Broad support sought for emerging specialty of orofacial pain.

The American Dental Association is considering giving the emerging field of orofacial pain full status as a new dental specialty. Many recent advances in the neuroscience of orofacial pain have lead to treatments by orofacial pain dentists that provide significant relief for patients with chronic disorders. However, access to this care has been limited, leaving many patients to continue to suffer. Recent efforts to improve this situation by developing the field into a specialty have received broad support among dentists and have increased awareness of the benefits this field can provide for dentists and their patients.